Weather Forecast

BOYS HOCKEY:
Warriors to host Roseau in section semifinals

The second-seeded Brainerd Warriors will play the No. 3 Roseau Rams in the semifinals of the Section 8-2A tournament at 7 p.m. Saturday at Brainerd Area Civic Center.

Roseau advanced to the semis by virtue of a 10-2 win over No. 6 Buffalo Wednesday night. Cole Bjugson scored a hat trick for the Rams while Alex Ziegler provided two goals. Alex Strand and Tanner Okeson each had 4-point games for the Rams.

Goalie Ryan Anderson needed to make only 12 saves as Roseau improved to 17-8-1. The Rams have won five games in a row, seven of their last eight.

Brainerd (20-5-0) and Roseau split their regular-season series.

The Warriors won 3-0 Jan. 18 on home ice as Cole Smith scored twice within three minutes in the second period and Logan Rivard tallied with 25 seconds left in the period. Warriors goalie Kyle Helmberger stopped all 26 shots Roseau fired his way.

In the rematch Jan. 26 at Roseau Memorial Arena, goals by Okeson in the first and Strand in the second gave the Rams a 2-0 win. The Warriors outshot Roseau 26-23 but drew 22 minutes in penalties to the Rams’ 12.

Rivard leads Brainerd in scoring with 21 goals and 21 assists (42 points). Smith is second in scoring (22-19—41), followed by Jake Ellingson (17-19—38) and Chris Pohlkamp (10-18—28).

Helmberger has an 18-5-0 record, 2.13 goals-against average and .907 saves percentage for Brainerd, which also has won its last five games and 15 of its last 16.

I've worked at the Brainerd Dispatch with various duties since Dec. 7, 1983. Starting off as an Ad Designer and currently Director of Audience Development. The Dispatch has been an interesting and challenging place to work. I'm fortunate to have made many friends, both co-workers and customers.